One of the things I enjoyed at the Yoga Journal conference in New York, May 14 – 18, was coming across new, brilliant manifesters of yoga. One was Brent Kessel. After his presentation, I bought his book. I took it on vacation. I read it on the beach. I love him.

True, possibly only I could read a book called It’s Not About the Money while supposedly relaxing. But I did find his ideas exciting (and he’s a good writer). I loved the notion that we live out unconscious stories about money—and we don’t need to. As in yoga, we just need to wake up!

As an experienced financial planner and a long time ashtanga yogi, Kessel is in a rare position to speak to yogis about money—and be heard. We yogis don’t really seem to want to talk about brass tacks. Unless we’re forced to, by, say, opening a studio, or trying to make a living as a yoga teacher.

But the aversion to seeing—with eyes wide open—that our yoga exists in a money-driven world, is just a form of avoidance. In fact, in some images of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of abundance, she is surrounded by gold coins.

Our (Westerners) discomfort putting money and yoga in the same thought seems to work us up into a knot. Do we understand why? Not really.

So, I’m looking forward to Kessel’s workshop tonight at East/West books in Manhattan, from 5:30-9:30.

Now that I understand his system, I’m ready for the experience. What money type am I? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What stories do I tell myself about what I can and cannot have? How are they holding me back? To me, this seems as yogic a workshop as meditation or pranayama.

I wish everyone abundance and prosperity—and freedom from whatever stories are driving you. Even if we don’t care about being rich, we do want to get free, right?

East/West Books: 212-243-5995, 78 Fifth Avenue @ 14th Street

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